Commissary Tools to Speed, Simplify Shopping

FORT LEE, Va. - Consider the Macarena, the Chicken Dance or the Electric Slide - they may still be around, but they're definitely not cool. When you do the Commissary Glide, however, you're sure to be cool for many years to come.

"Commissary Glide?" Actually, it's not a dance but refers to the Defense Commissary Agency's efforts to help you "glide" through the store as quickly and efficiently as possible.

"Though some customers appreciate a leisurely shopping experience, others want to get in and out in minimum time," says Patrick Nixon, DeCA chief executive officer and acting director. "We offer a number of timesaving tools to speed up or simplify your shopping trip."

• One tool sure to appeal to any shopper is the floor plan found on each store's Web page. Enter www.commissaries.com then click on "Locations" and find your store. On the home page, you'll see "Floor Plan" listed to the right. You can arrange the floor plan either numerically by aisle or alphabetically. You'll see all the items you're shopping for, from air fresheners to wraps. Just print out the list and check off what you need - sure beats writing it all down!
  
  

• If you have a little more time to prepare your list, you can click on "Shopping" then "Shopping List" and "Create Shopping List." After you select your store, you'll be able to create a detailed shopping list by perusing your store's entire inventory by category, item and size.
  
  

• The commissary Web site offers timesaving links to tons of coupons, recipes and contests as well as food safety information.
  
  

• Calling ahead for special orders also saves time. Your store might require 24 or 48 hours notice for specialty cakes, fruit trays or baskets, party trays from the deli or special cuts of meat, so be sure to check either by phone or by looking on the store Web page.
  
  

• Whether you're picking up a special order, running in for milk and bread, or racing in for lunch on-the-go, many stores provide 15-minute parking near the entrance.
  
  

• Commissaries offer one or more express lanes to make your checkout smooth and speedy. Also, we're proud that our cashiers may be the fastest and most experienced in the grocery industry; they must scan specified numbers of items per minute in order to meet DeCA standards. With the high patron counts of commissaries, we require the best cashiers!
  
  

• Many stores post signs indicating that military members in uniform may move to the front of the line during specified hours. Don't hesitate - you earned it!
  
  

• Architects design the entire layout of commissaries with your convenience and shopping habits in mind. Stores regularly undergo "resets" that reorganize store layout based on evolving shopping patterns. In general, the store perimeter offers the "fresh" items on your list: produce, meat, dairy and frozen - think "frozen fresh!" The center of the store carries primarily dry goods, boxed, bottled and canned.
  
  

• Some large stores offer self-checkout service for your speedy convenience, but then if your "cashier" is too slow, you have only yourself to blame!

The most fantastic thing about the Commissary Glide has to be that you can be quick on your wheels without sacrificing quality, variety or price. You'll still enjoy those national name-brand products, including the newest items on the market, at savings averaging 30 percent or more on your total purchases compared to commercial prices. Go ahead, dance! This one's cool.

The Defense Commissary Agency operates a worldwide chain of commissaries providing groceries to military personnel, retirees and their families in a safe and secure shopping environment. Authorized patrons purchase items at cost plus a 5-percent surcharge, which covers the costs of building new commissaries and modernizing existing ones. Shoppers save an average of 30 percent or more on their purchases compared to commercial prices - savings worth about $2,700 annually for a family of four. A core military family support element, and a valued part of military pay and benefits, commissaries contribute to family readiness, enhance the quality of life for America's military and their families, and help recruit and retain the best and brightest men and women to serve their country.